Washington: The US has refused to give any “specific reaction” to Islamabad’s decision to initiate talks with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), saying the two countries still have an “alignment of interests” on Afghanistan. . ,
US media reports on Monday said Pakistan and the TTP have an “agreement”complete ceasefireAs both the sides negotiated to end years of insurgency in the country.
American media also noted that Afghanistan’s actions Foreign Minister Aamir Khan Muttaki Arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday on a three-day visit – the first visit by an Afghan minister to Pakistan since the Taliban took control of Kabul on August 15.
The issue was also raised at an afternoon briefing at the US State Department where a journalist reminded spokesman Ned Price that Washington still considers the TTP a terrorist organization and called for an official US response to the talks.
“If we have any specific reaction on Pakistan” talks with Pakistani TalibanCertainly, we will let you know,” Mr. Price said, adding, “We are in regular contact with the Pakistani leadership regarding the Afghanistan question, our approach to Afghanistan and the views we have expressed. International community. ,
He said the US government had discussed the issue with Pakistani officials in the past as well.
“We have heard from our Pakistani counterparts, both public and private, that they are also interested in seeing that the gains made by Afghanistan’s minorities, including women and girls, over the past 20 years will not be allowed to go to waste,” the US said. he said. the officer added.
“And so, there is a considerable alignment of interests when it comes to Afghanistan, and we are continuing those conversations,” said Price, adding that the new Special Representative for Afghanistan will be Tom West. Islamabad will soon “continue to have some of these discussions in the coming days.”
The State Department announced earlier this week that Mr West would visit Islamabad later this week to clarify US expectations of the Taliban and a future government in Afghanistan.
This will be his first visit to Pakistan as the top US diplomat in Afghanistan. Mr West replaces Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, who stepped down this week after a turbulent three-year term in which he also negotiated a peace deal with the Taliban.
Published in Dawn, November 11, 2021